06-12-10 Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Phish Live Shows
#1

06/12/10 (Sat) Blossom Music Center - Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Set 1: Look Out Cleveland*, Ocelot, Water in the Sky, Stash, The Ballad of Curtis Loew, Sample in a Jar, Time Turns Elastic, Mike's Song > I am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove

Set 2: Rock and Roll, Harry Hood, Backwards Down the Number Line, Twenty Years Later, Instant Karma**, The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg, Waste, Character Zero, E: The Squirming Coil


Comment: *First time played, The Band cover. **First time played, John Lennon cover
#2

Nice show all around. I haven’t listened to the boards yet, but here’s my run down from memory.

Cleveland: Nice cover to get things going. The sound was off at first, couldn’t hear the vocals very well, but they dialed it in pretty quickly.

Ocelot & Water: Good first set songs. Nice energy, got the crowd moving. Ocelot stretched out a bit and wasn’t all blues solo which is good imo. Great piano work from Page on WITS.

Stash: Got everyone fired up. I’ll have to listen again, but I remember some Type II coming in as things moved from the atonal jam to a major key, but as someone else mentioned, the peak seemed rushed.

Curtis Loew: Nice bust out to catch. Great Page vocals. Crowd pleaser.

Sample & Time Turns: I didn’t mind the Sample too much. I figured it was coming with Will in attendance and all. TTE caused a massive flight to the bathrooms. I felt kind of bad for the guys because people were streaming out of the pav as soon as the opening notes were played.

Mikes Groove: This is a nice dark Mikes. The groove is thick. It’s standard length for Mike’s these days but they were on it. Well worth a listen (or two). The Paug was slightly exploratory with Page leading the charge. Trey sat back and let the rest of the guys find a groove. They touched upon some really cool stuff… reminded me of Island Tour stuff. Unfortunately Trey pulled the plug and the ending left something to be desired. Solid, but had some real potential.

Rock & Roll: I like the song, but I’m not a huge fan of the Type I jam. Luckily they busted out and found some interesting stuff on the tail end of the song. Trey found this theme that they worked for a little while. I really liked this jam. They were listening to each other really well. It struck me so much that I was surprised when the “Cuyahoga Jam” only clocked in at 5 minutes.

Hood: Emerges from some space at the end of RR. Tight composed section. The jam had some great interplay. It started with some upbeat work by Mike and Page, and eventually they work back into the regular Trey lead jam. Some cool stuff in there but the ending (as with all hoods since 94) didn’t bring any payout.

Number Line: I was actually excited to hear this one, seeing as they have been pushing it as a Type II vehicle more and more. And boy did they take it there. The jam gets thick and morphs through several different textures. Check it.

20 Years: Nice placement. I’m not thrilled by this song, but it definitely worked here.

Instant Karma: Another crowd please. Great vocals by Page. He nailed it. Cool to hear.

The rest of the show is somewhat standard. Good stuff but I have nothing to add really. Character Zero went some new places, but generally the rest of the set is what you’d expect.

Not a show for the history books, but they certainly delivered.

#3

First off I want to give mad props to the venue. This was my second time to Blossom. I went in 2000, but I was young and spun. This time I was able to take the whole scene in. Beautiful National Park that just happens to have a beautiful venue. I think this should be a mandatory stop every summer. Best shakedown street I’ve seen in awhile. Nothing compares to Deer Creek’s shakedown, but this was legit.

Anyways onto the show.

Didn’t recognize the opener. I knew it was a cover and I heard the Cleveland part, but I could’t place it. I found out from some dude at set break that it was a cover by the Band. Not bad. Thought it was a unique way to start off the show.

A well place Ocelot was next. It seems that Ocelot appears in the 2nd or 3rd song slot often. I think it fits well there.

Next was Water in the Sky. meh. Can take it or leave it, but it was cool.

Then the familiar riff of Stash kicked off. This Stash didn’t get crazy out there, but I thought it was a very well played version. One of my highlight of the first set!

Next was The Ballad of Curtis Loew! 2nd time played since 93! I’ll never complain about hearing this one. My first Curtis Loew!

Sample was next and I start to get the vibe of set that doesn’t exactly flow.

Then we get TTE’d. Actually really liked the placement of this. I knew we’d get something big after this.

They didn’t disappoint as Mike’s was next. Mike’s was dark and dirty. I still think they can push this song out even further, but I was dancing my ass of during this Mike.

Hydrogen was beautiful and then Weekapaug was off the charts. A lot of Weekapaug’s in 09 were pretty standard and short with the exception of Philly. This Weekapaug went places. The boys found a nice groove after the first run through the lyrics. It turned into a slower paced jam. It eventually works it way back nicely second time through the lyrics and then we are off to set break.

That’s how you end a set!

Rock and Roll opens the second set. Love this as a second set opener. I’m seeing a lot of comments about this Rock and Roll as getting way out there, but while I thought this was good there were similar or even better Rock and Roll’s in 09. Still loved it. The jam slowed down and then we get the familiar wood block that ques the beginning of Harry Hood.

Awesome Hood! Even got a sweet little solo by all 4 members before Harry was chanted. Beautiful melodic jam. After the peak in the Hood improv section we start to hear the familar beginning of BDTNL.

I gotta admit I wasn’t thrilled with the placement of this song at the time. That was until the jam took off. OMG. This BDTNL was clearly my highlight of the entire show. Check this one out again. The end of the jam is just off the hook. Page keeps hitting these two eerie notes on the keys and the boys are just so locked in on this jam. I’m going to say it. Best BDTNL eva!

This segues into 20 years later. I actually enjoy this song. Thought it fit well. My first 20 years later!

Then out of nowhere we hear the familiar piano intro of Instant Karma! Place went nuts. Not a crazy great version, but it was awesome! Also quit throwing glowsticks assholes. Page got nailed in the face when he was singing the chorus. Whatever he shook it off. I think he forgot a couple words, but no big deal.

I didn’t get a chance to meet up with any OKPers, but I thought the Oh Kee Pa Ceremony was fitting next as there was a serious crew from the boards there. This was my first OKP Ceremony. Wasn’t perfect, but damn I loved every second!

Suzy followed! I’ll take Suzy any time as long as they play The Oh Kee PA Cermony before! Page really funked this one up as well! Page seriously has taken over this second set folks! Really the whole show!

Next we get the time to reflect song in Waste. Good placement.

Then we get Zero’d. Actually Trey rocked the shit out of this version. He is still kinda struggling with the beginning, but man he straight rocks the shit out of this song. He loves it so I can’t complain.

Encore was Squirming Coil so Page can shine some more. The outro piano solo wasn’t that long, but it was cool. I had an absolute blast at this show!

I thought the First Set lacked flow, but certainly had its high moments.

The Second set had better flow with my clear highlight being the BDTNL. Seriously listen to this one folks.

All in all I saw 5 new songs. Pretty impressive as this was my 43rd show! Saw Look Out Cleveland, Instant Karma, The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony, 20 Years Later and the Ball of Curtis Loew for the first time!

I can’t wait till Deer Creek! Page dominates this one folks!

#4

Crazy. That was my 43rd also. i’ll get into it tomorrow.

#5

d00dz

great show. i loved how mellow that the first three songs were. i felt like they were trying to cool that place off. TTE is still the worst thing ever. famine > TTE.

#6

Here is my review of Blossom

readicculus.tumblr.com/

peace

#7

Really enjoyed this show, the Stash and Harry Hood were grand.

It may have been me, but was 20 Years Later really terrible? Maybe I wasn’t paying attention at that point.

Also, I still need to listen to this show again… but who wants to confirm or deny a Once in a Lifetime jam/tease in Weekapaug?

#8

i left blossom as a fan of 20 years later. i really really dig the chorus.

#9

Anybody catch the naked guy on the bridge entrance pre-show, or the tree climber post-show?

I am pretty sure neither was me.

And you are welcome for the Sample, Zoot!

#10

absolutely loved this venue. great show for sure. Mike’s Song really sent me off into never never land. Loved seeing Instant Karma too. The crowd loved it for sure too. Great seeing the boys having so much fun on stage.

#11

I thought the same thing man in Weekapaug for real

I thought 20 years later was a little lacking but def. decent

I really loved the show
can’t wait for CMAC

#12

By the way, I endorse this venue.

#13

^ +1

very cool place to see a show, the lawn isn’t too steep, the pavilion is beautiful - looks like the inner workings of a wooden ship, grass lots and rolling hills… it was quite a good experience, i must say!

#14

I got to see the naked guy passed out at the entrance, funny shit that was.

#15

My buddy passed him while he was in full-on self-grope mode.

#16

Poop!

Shoulda been my first “Mike’s Groove!”

#17

neil… wtff?? why weren’t you there?

#18

I saw the naked guy and I have a picture, but I don’t know how to post it on this site. Poor bastard, but funny.

#19

I think Blossom should replace Alpine as a summer tour staple.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better. Cool state park surroundings and all!

#20

i think that they should definitely do 2 nights next summer @ blossom since every other outdoor venue in ohio blows.

i could be wrong, but i thought i saw that you could rent cabins in the forest near the venue? if so, i’ll be doing that next year.